Clinical, Immunologic and Molecular Spectrum of Patients with Immunodeficiency, Centromeric Instability, and Facial Anomalies (ICF) Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Immunodeficiency, centromeric instability and facial dysmorphism (ICF) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive immune disorder presenting with hypogammaglobulinemia, developmental delay, and facial anomalies. The ICF type 1, type 2, type 3 and type 4 are characterized by mutations in DNMT3B, ZBTB24, CDCA7 or HELLS gene, respectively. This study aimed to present a comprehensive description of the clinical, immunologic and genetic features of patients with ICF syndrome. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched systemically to find eligible studies. RESULTS: Forty-eight studies with 118 ICF patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in our study. Among these patients, 60% reported with ICF-1, 30% with ICF-2, 4% with ICF-3, and 6% with ICF-4. The four most common symptoms reported in patients with ICF syndrome were: delay in motor development, low birth weight, chronic infections, and diarrhea. Intellectual disability and preterm birth among patients with ICF-2 and failure to thrive, sepsis and fungal infections among patients with ICF-1 were also more frequent. Moreover, the median levels of all three immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) were markedly reduced within four types of ICF syndrome. CONCLUSION: The frequency of diagnosed patients with ICF syndrome has increased. Early diagnosis of ICF is important since immunoglobulin supplementation or allogeneic stem cell transplantation can improve the disease-free survival rate.

Congenital Hypopigmentary Disorders with Multiorgan Impairment: A Case Report and an Overview on Gray Hair Syndromes.

The term congenital hypopigmentary disorders refers to a wide group of heterogeneous hereditary diseases, clinically characterized by inborn pigmentary defects of the iris, hair, and/or skin. They include Gray Hair Syndromes (GHSs), a rare group of autosomal recessive genodermatosis hallmarked by inborn silvery gray hair. GHSs encompass Griscelli, Chediak⁻Higashi, Elejalde, and Cross syndromes, which are all characterized by a broad spectrum of severe multisystem disorders, including neurological, ocular, skeletal, and immune system impairment. In this manuscript, we describe in detail the clinical, trichoscopic, and genetic features of a rare case of Griscelli syndrome; moreover, we provide an overview of all the GHSs known to date. Our report highlights how an accurate clinical examination with noninvasive methods, like trichoscopy, may play a crucial rule in diagnosis of rare and potentially lethal genetic syndromes such as Griscelli syndrome, in which timely diagnosis and therapy may modify the clinical course, quality of life, and likelihood of survival.

Craniofacial anomalies associated with spondyloenchondrodysplasia: Two case reports.

RATIONALE: Spondyloenchondrodysplasia (SPENCD) is an autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia by biallelic mutations in ACP5 gene encoding tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The extra-osseous phenotype of SPENCD is pleiotropic and involves neurological impairment and immune dysfunction. Dentofacial abnormalities and orofacial symptoms in SPENCD patients have been little discussed in the literature. PATIENTS CONCERNS: Herein we present clinical and radiological data regarding 2 siblings with SPENCD. Both patients exhibited short stature, cervical platyspondyly, growth disturbance with multiple skeletal deformities of the wrist, and systemic lupus erythematosus related autoimmunity. They experienced prolonged pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area and exhibited delayed dental development. One patient presented with midface hypoplasia, retrognathic mandible, and anterior openbite. Computed tomographic images demonstrated delayed spheno-occipital synchondrosis, obtuse cranial base angle, overdeveloped and anteriorly displaced sphenoidal sinuses, and compressed ethmoidal sinuses. DIAGNOSIS: The genetic analysis revealed heterozygous for a missense mutations at ACP5 in both probands. INTERVENTIONS: Routine follow-up with conservative treatment were conducted for 12 months. OUTCOMES: The elder sister's orofacial pain was relieved but the boy showed sustained masticatory and cervical muscle pain and TMJ arthralgia which had changed in accordance with systemic condition. No further teeth eruption or skeletal growth was observed in 2 siblings during the follow-up period. LESSONS: These findings extend the phenotypic spectrum of SPENCD and indicate that compromised endochondral ossification and the loss of TRAP activity may affect altered dentofacial development and orofacial symptoms.

Aplastic Anemia in Two Patients with Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies.

Sex chromosome aneuploidies range in incidence from rather common to exceedingly rare and have a variable phenotype. We report 2 patients with sex chromosome aneuploidies who developed severe aplastic anemia requiring treatment. The first patient had tetrasomy X (48,XXXX) and presented at 9 years of age, and the second patient had trisomy X (47,XXX) and presented at 5 years of age. Although aplastic anemia has been associated with other chromosomal abnormalities, sex chromosome abnormalities have not been traditionally considered a risk factor for this condition. A review of the literature reveals that at least one other patient with a sex chromosome aneuploidy (45,X) has suffered from aplastic anemia and that other autosomal chromosomal anomalies have been described. Despite the uncommon nature of each condition, it is possible that the apparent association is coincidental. A better understanding of the genetic causes of aplastic anemia remains important.

Mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease (MASP)-1 is crucial for lectin pathway activation in human serum, whereas neither MASP-1 nor MASP-3 is required for alternative pathway function.

The lectin pathway of complement is an important component of innate immunity. Its activation has been thought to occur via recognition of pathogens by mannan-binding lectin (MBL) or ficolins in complex with MBL-associated serine protease (MASP)-2, followed by MASP-2 autoactivation and cleavage of C4 and C2 generating the C3 convertase. MASP-1 and MASP-3 are related proteases found in similar complexes. MASP-1 has been shown to aid MASP-2 convertase generation by auxiliary C2 cleavage. In mice, MASP-1 and MASP-3 have been reported to be central also to alternative pathway function through activation of profactor D and factor B. In this study, we present functional studies based on a patient harboring a nonsense mutation in the common part of the MASP1 gene and hence deficient in both MASP-1 and MASP-3. Surprisingly, we find that the alternative pathway in this patient functions normally, and is unaffected by reconstitution with MASP-1 and MASP-3. Conversely, we find that the patient has a nonfunctional lectin pathway, which can be restored by MASP-1, implying that this component is crucial for complement activation. We show that, although MASP-2 is able to autoactivate under artificial conditions, MASP-1 dramatically increases lectin pathway activity at physiological conditions through direct activation of MASP-2. We further demonstrate that MASP-1 and MASP-2 can associate in the same MBL complex, and that such cocomplexes are found in serum, providing a scenario for transactivation of MASP-2. Hence, in functional terms, it appears that MASP-1 and MASP-2 act in a manner analogous to that of C1r and C1s of the classical pathway.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation corrects the immunologic abnormalities associated with immunodeficiency-centromeric instability-facial dysmorphism syndrome.

Immunodeficiency-centromeric instability-facial dysmorphism syndrome, characterized by variable immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, and facial anomalies caused by epigenetic dysregulation resulting in hypomethylation, is caused in many patients by mutations in DNMT3B, a DNA methyltransferase gene; associated infections are a major cause of serious sequelae and death. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve the clinical course in immunodeficiency-centromeric instability-facial dysmorphism syndrome. We report 3 unrelated patients with persistent infections and intestinal complications who successfully underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after nonmyeloablative or myeloablative conditioning regimens using HLA-matched donors. In all cases, donor chimerism led to resolution of intestinal complications and infections, growth improvement, and correction of the immunodeficiency.

A variant of the Nijmegen breakage syndrome with unusual cytogenetic features and intermediate cellular radiosensitivity.

We report the first Italian case of Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS). The proband is an immunodeficient, microcephalic, 11 year old boy with a "bird-like" face. He developed a T cell rich B cell lymphoma. Spontaneous chromosomal instability was detected in T and B lymphocytes and fibroblasts; chromosomes 7 and 14 were only sporadically involved in the rearrangements and no clonal abnormality was present. The patient appeared to be sensitive both to ionising radiation and to bleomycin, although his sensitivity did not reach the level of AT reference cells. After bleomycin treatment, inhibition of DNA synthesis was low when compared with normal cells, but higher than observed in an AT reference strain. Moreover, cell cycle analysis, after drug exposure, showed a progressive reduction in the percentage of S phase cells, but the G1 arrest, found in normal cells, was not observed. On clinical evaluation our patient shares features with NBS subjects, but cytogenetic and cell biological data do not completely overlap with those reported in Nijmegen breakage syndrome. The ethnic origin of our patient might account for these differences, as expression of different allelic forms at the NBS locus.